United States Portal Service

Saturday, 8 July 2017

How to Hold Mail While On Vacation (USPS Delivery Options and Advice)
Every time I am about to take an extended trip, I stop to consider what to do about our mail while away from home. With email and paperless (electronic) billing so common, I certainly receive less snail mail of a critical basis than in years past. However with charity requests, catalogs, sale circulars, and other bulk (junk) mail received almost daily, my mailbox tended to fill up in a matter of days. So do I...

Put the mail on hold at the US Post Office (local branch)
Let it pile up in the (never quite large enough) mailbox
Ask a family member or trusted neighbor to pick it up regularly​

As someone who prefers not to inconvenience others, in the past I have usually put our mail on hold with the post office. It seemed like the most secure and convenient option and costs nothing. Unfortunately my success rate while living in at several addresses in Pennsylvania (house and townhouse) and California (apartment and condo) has been mixed. Therefore I have gone back and forth among these three options to ensure that our mail does not overflow the box. The last thing I want to return home from vacation to is missing or lost mail.

I take lots of vacations and for the majority of situations, holding my mail worked. Twice my mail was never held as requested, but somehow it all fit (was shoved) in our mailbox while on a 10-day trip. Once our accumulated mail was not delivered to our home as of the return date (the date I picked for the mail service to resume). Therefore I had to make a special trip to the post office during business hours which was not fun.

Hold Mail Step by Step Guide
Since the online option is the fastest, most convenient, and perhaps most reliable way to put your mail on hold, I'll take you through the quick and easy steps.

No you are not looking at the USPS website now, but thanks for visiting my VacationCounts blog and supporting my effort to help people take the best time off work and life. Here is the l﻿ink to the U﻿SPS Hold Mail page which opens in a new browser window. You'll be following the step-by-step instructions which I'll help you with, so keep both browser tabs open so you can refer back.

Step 2 - Name and Address Entry Check

You will need to accurately enter your home mailing address so the postal database can look you up and verify that it can put in a request to your local post office to hold your mail. Enter your name and official home address in the "What's your address" box. Your phone number and email address are also required fields and of course your zip code is critical.

Step 3 - Hold Dates and Delivery Options
After you pass the address check, the fields in the "When will we hold your mail?" will become enabled. Here is where you will enter the start date and the end date for your when you'll be away from home. Remember that you can only hold mail for a minimum of 3 days to a maximum of 30 days.

Step 4 - Submit Hold Mail Request - You're Done!
Before you click the "Submit" button double check to make sure your entries are correct. You wouldn't want your mail held for the wrong dates or enter the wrong apartment number by mistake for example. There is an "Additional ​Instructions" button if you have anything to add, but I honestly have no idea what this field is meant to handle. When you are ready and have read the important legal disclaimer at the bottom, click the submit button and await the success response.

After your mail hold request is processed electronically, you'll receive a confirmation email and also a letter in the mail detailing your hold request. I think the letter is meant as a security precaution in case someone else tries to put your mail on hold on purpose or by mistake. If you see any mistakes after the fact, you can either cancel a mail hold or use the phone or in-person options to talk to a real person who can make it right.

Loved Indians,
Let us celebrate & enjoy the freedom to live
independently in our country Cheerfully,
Helpfully,Hopefully,Peacefullu by remembering
our National Heroes who gave us Freedom after suffering pain & humilation.
A Proud Indian {HaPpY InDePeNdEnCe DaY}

Tuesday, 11 October 2016

Money orders are used in lieu of checks or cash when you need to make a payment. Unlike checks, money orders can never bounce, making them a safer option for parties requiring large payments for rent or expensive items. Money orders are also a convenient choice for people who do not have checkbooks and prefer not to make a payment with cash. This article contains information about how to obtain a money order, fill it out, and give it to your recipient.Part 1. Obtaining A Money Order1. Decide on the amount of the money order. Many establishments will ask you to pay for the money order in cash. In some cases you will be able to pay with a credit or debit card2. Go to your bank. If you have a bank account, the easiest way to obtain a money order is to go to the teller and ask for one.Some banks may charge a small fee, but many offer money orders for free.Some banks offer cashier's checks, which are similar to money orders. Make sure the recipient will accept a cashier's check before buying one instead of a money order.Banks offer the benefit of keeping a record of your money order purchase, which could come in handy in the event that the money order gets lost.3. Try local businesses. Drugstores, grocery stores, and places like Wal-Mart offer money orders for a fee. Visit a few different places and choose the one with the lowest fee.Some establishments have a limit on the amount of the money order. If there is a cap, simply purchase more than one money order until you have the total amount you need.4. Try the post office. Money orders issued by the United States Postal Service are usually replaceable if they are lost, stolen or damaged. The following benefits also apply to money orders purchased from the USPS:They can be purchased with debit cards.They are cashable in 29 other countries.5. Consider purchasing a money order online. If you'd rather not purchase a money order in person, an online vendor might be a convenient choice. However, online companies usually charge steeper fees than local establishments. The leading online money order company is Payko, which caps daily money order purchases at just $200.6. Try a money-oriented establishment. Western Union, credit unions, and other places that handle money usually issue money orders.PART 2. Filling Out The Money Order1. Check to be sure the amount is correct. The establishment that issued your money order will have printed the amount on the money order slip. Double check to make sure it's right before you end the transaction.2. Decide where to fill out the money order. You may want to fill out the money order on the spot, rather than carrying it to another location. If the money order lands in someone else's hands before it is filled out, that person could fill in their own name and cash it.If you do carry the blank money order to another location, keep in in a safe place on your person. When you get home, put it in a place where it won't get lost.3. Fill in the "payee" blank. The first blank to fill in will say "Pay to the Order of" or "Payee." This is where you write the name of the person or company to whom you are giving the money order.Use black or blue non-eraseable ink to fill out the money order.4. Fill in your personal information. Some money orders will have a space for you to fill in your name and address or other information. If you wish to fill this out, do so in blue or black ink.5. Fill in transaction information. You may want to add details about the nature of the transaction, such as the name of the item you are paying for.6. Sign the money order. If there's a space for you to sign the money order, you may do so, although it can still be cashed without your signature.PART 3. Paying With Money Order1. First make a copy. Since money orders are often used to pay people you may not know well, it's good to keep a personal record of the money order in case a problem arises. Make a copy of the money order and file it with your financial records. Keep it with the receipt that came with your money order.2. Hand it over in person. The best way to pay with a money order is to give it directly to the recipient. This eliminates the chance that it will get lost or tampered with by a third party.3. Mail it in a business envelope. If you're mailing a money order, make sure it's in a security envelope, rather than a letter envelope. Packaging it discreetly will prevent someone else from getting curious and attempting to tamper with the money order.

With a simple online form, the United States Postal Service (USPS) offers users the ability to set up mail forwarding without visiting or calling their local post office. The Postal Service provides different forwarding and delivery options depending on the duration of forwarding and the types of mail that need to be forwarded, most of which are free, though the automated forwarding form carries a fee.
Available Services
The Postal Service offers a variety of forwarding services to fit different needs. When you are changing your primary residence, the permanent change of address service forwards mail, piece-by-piece to your new address for one year. Packages will not be forwarded, and magazines are only forwarded for 60 days. If you are going on a long trip and need to temporarily forward your mail, you can use a standard temporary change of address or premium mail forwarding. A temporary address change offers the same service as a permanent address change for a period no longer than one year and no less than two weeks. Premium forwarding service packages mail and forwards it in bulk once a week and also includes package forwarding. If you will be away for less than two weeks, put your mail on hold because you cannot use the forwarding service.
Forwarding Requirements
You can only forward mail for a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of one year for temporary forwarding, whether through the temporary change of address or premium forwarding service. When you use the Internet or telephone change of address services, you are required to provide a MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express credit card number. The Postal Service verifies that the address on your credit card matches either your current or forwarding address and charges your card $1 for the service.
How to Set Up Forwarding
Begin the official change of address form by verifying that you are or have authorization to set up mail forwarding for the individual listed on the form. Click the radio button for permanent forwarding or temporary forwarding as applicable in your situation and enter a start and end date for the service. Enter your name, current and forwarding address information and email address for confirmation. Complete the form by providing your credit card information for verification purposes and the associated service fee. You can also call the automated telephone change of address service at 1-800-275-8777. Walk through the same questions on the phone and provide your credit card for address verification.
How to Change or Cancel Forwarding
If you have set up temporary forwarding for vacation or short-term move, the service will automatically end on the date you specified on your change of address form. If you need to change or cancel the forwarding service at any time, go to the "View, Update or Change" page and enter your forwarding zip code and the confirmation number from your email change of address confirmation. You can use this form to change forwarding start and end dates, convert a temporary change to a permanent one or completely cancel a permanent change or address or a temporary one that has not started.